Coaching Carousel

by Jettero2112 on Jan 5, 2009 11:49 AM EST

I just read an article by The Sporting News' Mike Florio, going over the current 'coaching carousel' in the NFL. Here's what he has to say about the Lions:

7. Detroit Lions: "Fit" is the word

If the Denver Broncos are looking for a coach who won’t want to take over the place, the Lions are looking for someone with even lower ambitions.

After adroitly navigating the first 0-16 season in league history both to keep their jobs and then to secure promotions less than 24 hours after the final gun fired in the season’s final embarrassment, Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew are now even more firmly entrenched in Detroit.

The next coach had better not try to undermine them.

Lewand and Mayhew aren’t looking for the best coach; they’re looking for the best "fit." In other words, they want a guy who’ll be happy to get the job, and who won’t blame either of them if the thing goes (or, more accurately, stays) south.

In other words, they want a coach who’ll demonstrate to them the loyalty that they didn’t show to their former boss, Matt Millen, whom they criticized behind his back while he was there, and whom they now openly blame for the failures of the past eight seasons.

Mayhew and Lewand should have been gone and Parcells or Pioli should now have that position. Ford once again shows his ineptitude at running an NFL franchise. I don't believe these two can turn this juggernaut to hell around.

Draft/trade for defense should be the #1 priority. I keep hearing they should take a QB at #1. Bad move, and more than Millenesque enough to keep this franchise in the toilet.

I'm not too optimistic about the Lions immediate or long term future with the way things have started out after the Millen years/fiasco ended.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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Florio is right

They should have just kept Marinelli. He was about as “Yes Man” as they come. Instead, they’ll hire a second-rate coordinator or position coach that’s just happy to have a head coaching gig and keep him at bay. If Mayhew turns out to be a true personnel guru, it could be a perfect set-up, though. However, this is the Lions and there is probably a fat chance of that happening.

I’m not as worried about taking a QB as most of you, because we need one badly. I agree that the current squad does not set him up for success right away. But if Mayhew takes a QB overall, it’s not necessarily a bad move. Yes, we need to upgrade “On-My” Backus, but if we used a second and third rounder on guards (that can contribute right away) our line would be much improved. We can replace Backus next year.

by DrewsLions on Jan 5, 2009 5:15 PM EST reply actions

VanOchten on The Huge Show: Lions stuck looking for another Rod Marinelli to coach

Here’s a bit I read in The Grand Rapids Press (used to live in Holland, still keep up with the area)

Grand Rapids Press columnist Brian VanOchten joined Bill Simonson inside the “GR Press Box” to talk about the latest in the Detroit Lions’ search for a new coach.

“This is not an attractive job at all. It’s got to be someone who’s desperate to be a head coach, who just wants that shot,” VanOchten said. “I hate to say it, but they’re going to be looking for a few Rod Marinellis out there to come in, be the stop-gap. It’s the same old thing with the Lions.”

Here’s a link to the article with an audio link of the interview.

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Jan 5, 2009 11:15 PM EST reply actions

I heard this too...

Seems like all the beat writers are saying the same thing. Although Mayhew has and will keep tight-lipped until they make the hire, it will not be a big name hire. There are just too many good candidates out there to settle on a guy just because he’ll be subordinate to the powers that be. It really iritates me that they are not taking a run at a good quality “been there, done that” guy like Shanahan, Schottenheimer or even a Dan Reeves. Hopefully, they’ll at least hold out until they can see if they can get Schwartz.

by DrewsLions on Jan 6, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

Coaching Change

We don’t know that Mayhew is not looking to the “been there, done that” coaches. I read earlier today that they have expressed an interest in Shanahan (I doubt he will come). But with Mayhew being tight lipped about the search. Check out how mixed up the media was with the Garrett interview/redrawal.

by MGLion on Jan 8, 2009 5:17 PM EST reply actions